New Survey from Sprint Measures Mobile Usage and Spending Trends in Tough Economy

Consumers View Mobile Service as a Priority, While Looking to Save with a Family or Set-Price Plan and by Disconnecting Their Landline

OVERLAND PARK, Kan., Dec 16, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- --This Holiday Season One-Third of Respondents Use Mobile Phones to Shop
Today Sprint (NYSE:S) released the findings of the Sprint Survey on
Mobile Value, which evaluated how U.S. consumers are using
their mobile phones and making financial decisions in today's
challenging economic times. For downloadable high-resolution charts and
graphs of the survey, visit www.sprint.com/presskits.

This year 72 percent of respondents decreased their overall household
spending, with 22 percent spending the same and only six percent
reporting an increase in spending. While watching their finances
closely, 83 percent of respondents still choose to own a mobile phone,
and more than half (56 percent) say they are "inseparable" from their
mobile phone throughout the day.

Some key findings from the survey include how consumers are:

Saving by disconnecting their landline phone service and by switching
to family and set-price mobile plans.

Willing to switch mobile carriers for the right amount of savings.

Using their mobile phones to get the best deals while holiday shopping.

"My website MommySavers.com receives millions of hits each month, and
based on my interactions on it with moms like me from across the
country, I have no doubt that this survey is a true reflection on how
many people are watching their pennies right now," said Kimberly Danger,
founder of MommySavers.com. "Since times are tight, everyone is looking
for more tricks to save, including on their phone bills, and tools such
as Sprint's new online calculator are great ways to do that."

Sprint's online calculator (http://sprint.skylarke.com/valuecalculator/)
allows consumers to quickly input their needs for mobile service, and
then it suggests a plan. The calculator shows how much the plan could
mean in savings compared to AT&T and Verizon, and it demonstrates in
real dollars what those savings could buy, such as $240 in savings is
the equivalent of a car payment or a week of daycare expenses.

Disconnecting Landlines

The Sprint Survey on Mobile Value showed that nearly
one-third (32 percent) of respondents are likely to eliminate their
landline service and rely solely on a mobile phone in order to save
money. Eighteen percent of respondents already do not have landline
phone service at their home.

More than one third of mobile phone owners (36 percent) say a mobile
phone is the only phone they will ever need. When asked why they would
give up their landline phone, three-quarters of respondents (76 percent)
said they would disconnect in order to save money.

Family Plans

Almost three-quarters (72 percent) of respondents are likely to use
family plans for mobile phones in order to save money. Sixty-seven
percent of mobile phone owners have more than one mobile phone in their
family/household, and of them, 78 percent have combined into a family
plan or would consider it to save money.

Set-price Data Plans

Forty percent of respondents use their mobile phone for more than voice
conversations, referring to the use of data services such as email, text
messaging, web browsing, picture sharing, GPS driving directions, TV
watching, music listening, etc. Additionally, 47 percent would consider
an unlimited data plan for a set monthly price in order to stay within
their budget and avoid surprises.

Switching for Savings

The Sprint Survey on Mobile Value found that more than
half of respondents (54 percent) would switch their mobile phone carrier
if they saved $300 or less a year. Another 30 percent would switch for
savings between $400 and $600, and still another 26 percent would switch
for savings between $600 and $1,000.

Sprint offers a family plan that can mean at least $240 and up to $1,000
in annual savings based on comparable rate and service plans offered by
Verizon and AT&T. For example, Sprint's Simply Everything family plan
with unlimited voice, data and messaging for two customers is more than
$1,000 less per year than AT&T's similar plan.

Holiday Shopping

This holiday season one-third of mobile phone owners (33 percent) report
using their mobile phone to get more "bang for their buck" when
shopping. The top ways they save money with their phone are to:

Call a friend (72 percent)

Take a picture of price tags/features of different products (35
percent)

Call other retailers for comparison pricing (26 percent)

Check prices via the mobile Internet (22 percent)

Look up other retailers in the area to see where else to visit (12
percent)

Call the store they are in to request a discounted price (11 percent)

Use a mobile coupon (6 percent)

Use a mobile shopping application like Slifter (1 percent)

One-third of all respondents (31 percent) were finished with holiday
shopping more than two weeks in advance of December 25 with an
additional 31 percent halfway finished. Twenty-one percent had just
started shopping, and 17 percent will start a few days in advance of
December 25.

Additional Trending

The Sprint Survey on Mobile Value also found these
interesting trends among respondents:

Sixty-eight percent believe their mobile phone is a time saver.

Forty-three percent make more than half of their calls from their
mobile phone.

Fifty-seven percent have used their mobile phone in an emergency.

More than half (52 percent) use their mobile phone for pleasure; three
percent use it strictly for business; 45 percent use their mobile
phone for both.

For more information about the Sprint Survey on Mobile Value,
visit www.sprint.com/presskits.
For more information about Sprint's pricing plans, visit www.sprint.com/everything.

About the Sprint Survey on Mobile Value

The Sprint Survey on Mobile Value is based on an online
survey among a nationwide sample of U.S. adults. Of the 473
participants, 29 percent were from the Midwest, 27 percent from the
South, 23 percent from the Northeast and 21 percent from the West. Of
the respondents, 56 percent were female and 44 percent were male. The
margin of error for the survey is plus or minus 4.51 percent.

About Sprint Nextel

Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline
communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers,
businesses and government users. Sprint Nextel is widely recognized for
developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including
two wireless networks serving nearly 51 million customers at the end of
the third quarter 2008; industry-leading mobile data services; instant
national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier
1 Internet backbone. For more information, visit www.sprint.com.

New Survey from Sprint Measures Mobile Usage and Spending Trends in Tough Economy

<h1>New Survey from Sprint Measures Mobile Usage and Spending Trends in Tough Economy</h1><p align=center><i>Consumers View Mobile Service as a Priority, While Looking to Save with a Family or Set-Price Plan and by Disconnecting Their Landline</i></p><p>OVERLAND PARK, Kan., Dec 16, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- --This Holiday Season One-Third of Respondents Use Mobile Phones to Shop
Today Sprint (NYSE:S) released the findings of the Sprint Survey on
Mobile Value, which evaluated how U.S. consumers are using
their mobile phones and making financial decisions in today's
challenging economic times. For downloadable high-resolution charts and
graphs of the survey, visit www.sprint.com/presskits.
</p>
<p>This year 72 percent of respondents decreased their overall household
spending, with 22 percent spending the same and only six percent
reporting an increase in spending. While watching their finances
closely, 83 percent of respondents still choose to own a mobile phone,
and more than half (56 percent) say they are "inseparable" from their
mobile phone throughout the day.
</p>
<p>Some key findings from the survey include how consumers are:
</p>
<p><ul><li>
Saving by disconnecting their landline phone service and by switching
to family and set-price mobile plans.</li>
<li>
Willing to switch mobile carriers for the right amount of savings.</lI>
<li>
Using their mobile phones to get the best deals while holiday shopping.</li>
</ul></p>
<p>"My website MommySavers.com receives millions of hits each month, and
based on my interactions on it with moms like me from across the
country, I have no doubt that this survey is a true reflection on how
many people are watching their pennies right now," said Kimberly Danger,
founder of MommySavers.com. "Since times are tight, everyone is looking
for more tricks to save, including on their phone bills, and tools such
as Sprint's new online calculator are great ways to do that."
</p>
<p>Sprint's online calculator (http://sprint.skylarke.com/valuecalculator/)
allows consumers to quickly input their needs for mobile service, and
then it suggests a plan. The calculator shows how much the plan could
mean in savings compared to AT&T and Verizon, and it demonstrates in
real dollars what those savings could buy, such as $240 in savings is
the equivalent of a car payment or a week of daycare expenses.
</p>
<p>Disconnecting Landlines
</p>
<p>The Sprint Survey on Mobile Value showed that nearly
one-third (32 percent) of respondents are likely to eliminate their
landline service and rely solely on a mobile phone in order to save
money. Eighteen percent of respondents already do not have landline
phone service at their home.
</p>
<p>More than one third of mobile phone owners (36 percent) say a mobile
phone is the only phone they will ever need. When asked why they would
give up their landline phone, three-quarters of respondents (76 percent)
said they would disconnect in order to save money.
</p>
<p>Family Plans
</p>
<p>Almost three-quarters (72 percent) of respondents are likely to use
family plans for mobile phones in order to save money. Sixty-seven
percent of mobile phone owners have more than one mobile phone in their
family/household, and of them, 78 percent have combined into a family
plan or would consider it to save money.
</p>
<p>Set-price Data Plans
</p>
<p>Forty percent of respondents use their mobile phone for more than voice
conversations, referring to the use of data services such as email, text
messaging, web browsing, picture sharing, GPS driving directions, TV
watching, music listening, etc. Additionally, 47 percent would consider
an unlimited data plan for a set monthly price in order to stay within
their budget and avoid surprises.
</p>
<p>Switching for Savings
</p>
<p>The Sprint Survey on Mobile Value found that more than
half of respondents (54 percent) would switch their mobile phone carrier
if they saved $300 or less a year. Another 30 percent would switch for
savings between $400 and $600, and still another 26 percent would switch
for savings between $600 and $1,000.
</p>
<p>Sprint offers a family plan that can mean at least $240 and up to $1,000
in annual savings based on comparable rate and service plans offered by
Verizon and AT&T. For example, Sprint's Simply Everything family plan
with unlimited voice, data and messaging for two customers is more than
$1,000 less per year than AT&T's similar plan.
</p>
<p>Holiday Shopping
</p>
<p>This holiday season one-third of mobile phone owners (33 percent) report
using their mobile phone to get more "bang for their buck" when
shopping. The top ways they save money with their phone are to:
</p>
<p><ul><li>
Call a friend (72 percent)
</li>
<li>
Take a picture of price tags/features of different products (35
percent)</li>
<li>
Call other retailers for comparison pricing (26 percent)</li>
<li>
Check prices via the mobile Internet (22 percent)</li>
<li>
Look up other retailers in the area to see where else to visit (12
percent)</li>
<li>
Call the store they are in to request a discounted price (11 percent)</li>
<li>
Use a mobile coupon (6 percent)</li>
<li>
Use a mobile shopping application like Slifter (1 percent)
</li></ul></p>
<p>One-third of all respondents (31 percent) were finished with holiday
shopping more than two weeks in advance of December 25 with an
additional 31 percent halfway finished. Twenty-one percent had just
started shopping, and 17 percent will start a few days in advance of
December 25.
</p>
<p>Additional Trending
</p>
<p>The Sprint Survey on Mobile Value also found these
interesting trends among respondents:
</p>
<p><ul><li>
Sixty-eight percent believe their mobile phone is a time saver.
</li>
<li>
Forty-three percent make more than half of their calls from their
mobile phone.
</li>
<li>
Fifty-seven percent have used their mobile phone in an emergency.</li>
<li>
More than half (52 percent) use their mobile phone for pleasure; three
percent use it strictly for business; 45 percent use their mobile
phone for both.
</li></ul></p>
<p>For more information about the Sprint Survey on Mobile Value,
visit www.sprint.com/presskits.
For more information about Sprint's pricing plans, visit www.sprint.com/everything.
</p>
<p>About the Sprint Survey on Mobile Value
</p>
<p>The Sprint Survey on Mobile Value is based on an online
survey among a nationwide sample of U.S. adults. Of the 473
participants, 29 percent were from the Midwest, 27 percent from the
South, 23 percent from the Northeast and 21 percent from the West. Of
the respondents, 56 percent were female and 44 percent were male. The
margin of error for the survey is plus or minus 4.51 percent.
</p>
<p>About Sprint Nextel
</p>
<p>Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline
communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers,
businesses and government users. Sprint Nextel is widely recognized for
developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including
two wireless networks serving nearly 51 million customers at the end of
the third quarter 2008; industry-leading mobile data services; instant
national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier
1 Internet backbone. For more information, visit www.sprint.com.
</p>
<p>SOURCE: Sprint
</p>
<p>
Sprint <br/>
Aaron Radelet, 703-433-8246 <br/>
aaron.radelet@sprint.com</p>
</span>

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